By Joëlle Walls
Published in GoSTEAM's A Program in Review 2018-2024
Sixth-grade science teacher Latoya Rivers had just moved to Georgia and started teaching at Herman J. Russell West End Academy when she first encountered the GoSTEAM team. “Through GoSTEAM, I met so many amazing, open-minded educators and innovators. Hearing their ideas and making meaningful connections renewed my belief in the importance of STEAM in everyday education,” Rivers said. “It’s not just a separate elective class or club, but a vital part of our daily learning. The experience gave me countless new ideas to implement, making a profound impact on my approach to teaching.”
Rivers is most proud of her first project-based learning unit, “Save the 1%,” which achieved the highest student engagement she had ever witnessed. Using the coding platform EarSketch, students created songs about the importance of conserving water and the different methods to do so.
“For the first time that year, I achieved the highest level of engagement with 100% compliance from every student for two consecutive weeks,” she said. “Students created beats using coding skills they learned from our Georgia Tech innovator. They consistently revisited and improved their work, applying the engineering design process to tweak and enhance their beats and lyrics. Beyond the stellar engagement, my students desired to learn more about coding and the development of music, that ultimately sparked their interest in new career paths.”
The interest in music engineering careers stemmed from the involvement of Justin Crowder, the school’s STEAM master teacher lead and a professional musician. He helped the students record their songs at the school’s industry-quality music studio he installed for such purposes. “The students completed the music production in EarSketch, focusing on the coding aspect rather than elaborate production. Given the speed and quality of their work, I aimed to elevate their experience,” he explained. “We took a group at a time, and these kids, with no prior experience, recorded during class. I gave them a few pointers, and they just jumped in. The results were incredible."
Similarly, seventh-grade math teacher April Robinson led a project that brought geometry principles to life through the students’ own creation of African masks. “The aha moment came when the children realized they were more than their circumstances. I believe in the power of my students,” said Robinson. “When they saw themselves as inventors and creators, they started to believe in themselves. They became more than they ever saw. That is how we will change the world.”
The students first visited the Carlos Museum at Emory University to explore the African art exhibit to gain a better understanding of the cultural aspects of the project. Then the students designed the masks using 3D modeling software Tinkercad before every mask was 3D-printed, painted and displayed at a school-wide exhibition where many attendees wanted to purchase the masks.
Sarah Yoo, the school’s STEAM coach, and GoSTEAM innovator Ed Gnatiuk provided crucial support on these projects. Yoo noted that during her first year at the school, Gnatiuk’s established presence through GoSTEAM helped her acclimate. “Known as Mr. G, he has been a beloved member of our school community. The kids all know him and ask for him when he’s not around,” Yoo said. “Mr. G. understands the challenges teachers face, gets to know them well, and provides just the right balance of support and freedom. His multitude of contributions, including his technology and STEAM expertise, have greatly enriched our school.”
Gnatiuk, who first started as an innovator and now works full-time at CEISMC, has seen significant changes and impacts at the school. “The changes in the school are fascinating. There are so many projects happening now that I can’t keep track of them all,” he said. “The goal of GoSTEAM was to offer the support and guidance needed to help the school fully embrace STEAM integration. We’ve built the capacity and provided the kickstart; now, they are taking it to the next level and excelling, which makes me proud.”
